Paul Michael Reavey, 53, of Lisnaree Road, near Shinn, Northern Ireland. who we covered in a previous post is “a so called ‘family man’ who adopts and fosters kids” according to the Sunday World newspaper whose reporter spoke to him at home after his four month prison sentence was suspended on appeal.

Many people will be left aghast after Judge Gordon Kerr QC overturned the jail sentence apparently because Reavey has a background of fostering and adopting children. Many people will also wonder if a man who is deemed not fit to care for animals should be allowed to care for children. The links between cruelty to animals and cruelty to humans and domestic violence have been well documented.

The child protection authorities will need to consider carefully and with urgency, whether someone who takes part in such sadistic activities is a fit a proper person be caring for children.

The Northern Ireland Sentencing Group might also want to consider whether the suspension of the prison sentence was appropriate in this case.